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The best things to do in London

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life," said Samuel Johnson. He spoke the truth. Whether you're looking for West End musicals, double decker buses, Sherlock Holmes pubs, or Kate Middleton lunch spots, the British capital has something to offer you.

Warner Brothers Studio

You can't go to London without visiting Harry Potter! Take a day trip from London to Warner Brothers Studio, where you'll be able to shop Diagon Alley, enjoy a Butterbeer, and talk Quidditch.

Stonehenge

Reflect on the world's most famous prehistoric ruins. Getting to Stonehenge takes about 90 minutes. Tip: you can also visit Windsor Castle or Bath while out in the countryside.

The Shard

If you can catch a sunny day, there's nothing more beautiful than 360-degree views of London at the Shard. Visit the viewing platform inside Western Europe's tallest building.

Madame Tussaud's

Trying to spot your favorite British celebrities? You'll at least be able to find their life-size wax counterparts here! Madame Tussaud's is a fun thing to do on a rainy day in London.

Tower of London

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, AKA The Tower of London, is a historic castle located on the Thames River. The tour is plain fun, and you get to see the Crown Jewels!

London Eye

South Bank

The walk between the Eye and Tower Bridge in South Bank is filled with largely state-funded arts venues. Head to the Tate Modern for modern masters, and then to Borough Market for lunch.

River Thames

The River Thames weaves right through the heart of London. An afternoon boat tour is a fun introduction to the Tower of London, Parliament, and other riverside attractions.

Photo: londonfilmgeek @flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Wembley Stadium

Opened in 2007, Wembley is the 90,000 capacity home for the English national football team (and lots of other major sporting and concert events!).

London Zoo

A visit to the London Zoo is a great family outing. Watch the animal feedings, explore the butterfly enclosure, or learn more about conservation.

Planning Your London Visit

How many days should you spend in London?

If this is your first trip to London, stay for at least four full days in order to hit all the classic sights like Buckingham Palace. But whether it's your first trip or your tenth, the key to visiting London is planning. The more you dig around, the more you'll realize how many things you can do in the city -- and everybody will want to see different sights and attractions. Before you go, decide which which tours or sights are a "must" for your group.

How much do taxis and double decker buses cost?

Transportation is notoriously expensive in London. Take the tube or a taxi at least once, for the experience and the picture. Locals travel by bus or by foot. The bus map can be a little confusing, but it is reliable and much cheaper. You'll be an expert by the end of your trip, which will give you a better excuse to come back again!

What's the best time of year to visit London?

They aren't kidding when they say "foggy Londontown." There's always a threat of rain, which is something that bonds the English together in solidarity. Even in the summer, you should carry an umbrella or light jacket. One idea? Plan your visit around a classic London event (like the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race down the Thames, or seeing the Christmas lights at Harrod's).

Good to know

Language

English

Currency

British Pound (£)

Time Zone

UTC (+00:00)

Country Code

+44

Best time to visit

The weather is foggy with a chance of rain year-round. In the spring, the parks are green and in bloom. In the fall and winter, hotel prices tend to be lower.

Cities in United Kingdom

Other Sightseeing Options in London

What people are saying about London

Protesters & rain but still great thanks to Shane

Protesters in London caused all Tour Buses lots of problems on our trip. But the staff that greeted us at The Aldwich were professional and efficient. Once the bus arrived Shane took over and he was fantastic. What a great asset to your company. He apologised many times for events that were totally out of his control (protesters/diversions) We were on the bus much longer than we intended and missed a few things due to the diversions. The weather changed in an instant from blue skies and sunshine to heavy rain but my friends and I stayed put with Shane on the top deck, he stood up throughout. He entertained with great information and humour and even played "Its Raining Men" for us when we were totally soaked. He apologised again & kept us informed when he got off it was so very different. We could not really hear Luke and didn't actually see him - he sat somewhere but we didn't know where.
It was disappointing that our £34 each trip was so badly disrupted but Shane made it great fun!

Spent seven hours wandering and loved it!

My girlfriend and I bought tickets for Saturday and my plane ended up landing late, the trains were delayed and tracks were closed, but they were nice enough to let us use our tickets the next day rather than let us in 45 minutes to close! We ended up spending 7 hours wandering around the next day. Dress for the weather because much of it is wandering outside on the battlements looking at architecture. We bought the multimedia guide and the tours were interesting and self-paced. We learned a whole rich history where before we’d only known little bits. We ate fish and chips in the Royal Armouries Cafe (delicious.) Plan to spend the whole day at the Tower of London!

Great day looking at graffiti around london!

Great day viewing Graffiti around London. Our guide Gabriel was really fun and informative with interesting facts on the artist and their work. Saw pieces by well known graffiti artists such as Banksy, Stik and Shepherd Fairey and others such as Jimmy C and Jim Vision. There were also some artist that I was not as familiar with but it was great to see more work! The tour was really well paced and the Eat part of the tour was also great as we got to visit the very busy Beigel Bake and taste traditional beigels, really adding to our experience!

Good way to get the overall feel of the city.

Even though our trip was somewhat interrupted by major protests on the streets Big Bus did there best trying to navigate the unexpected road closers. We have been on other tours they offer in other city’s and have always had good service.

Fantastic Harry Potter walking tour including London tourists sites!

Loved my tour guide Geoff he was so knowledgeable and friendly. He knew everything and offered such a good tour knowing everything about Harry Potter but also facts about London which I loved as a first time visitor